Monday

Jaguars coach Doug Marrone revealed on Monday that Leonard Fournette has a minor right hamstring injury and will continue to receive treatment.

The Jaguars don’t practice until Wednesday, so it’s still too early to determine if he will be available to play in Sunday’s home opener against New England.

"I talked to [the doctors] and they said it was a minor hamstring injury," Marrone said. "We have a lot of time and we will see where it is. If he is ready to go, we will ease him back in there. We will see how he feels. I think a lot of it depends on that.”

In Sunday’s 20-15 season-opening victory against the New York Giants, Fournette was forced out of the game in the second quarter and did not return after he limped off the field holding his right hamstring.

On Monday morning, Fournette was seen walking around the locker room without limping, but had a protective sleeve on his right leg.

"When I talked to Leonard, he said he had it before in high school," Marrone said. "I think when you have something before and it feels the same way, you know how to deal with it."

The Jaguars’ offense depends on Fournette and the ground game to control the clock.

Before he was forced out Sunday, Fournette gained 41 yards on nine carries and caught three passes for 14 yards.

"He our leader, he’s our bell cow, everybody knows how important he is for this franchise," tight end James O’Shaughnessy said. "We all need to step it up and everybody understands that."

With Fournette out, the Jaguars offense was held to four first downs and 121 yards in the second half by the Giants.

T.J. Yeldon, who filled in for Fournette, caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and finished with a team-high 51 yards rushing.

Quarterback Blake Bortles was successful on play-action passes and had an impressive 41-yard run. But after halftime, he didn't attempt many downfield throws. The Jaguars receivers had difficulty getting separation. Wide receiver Donte Moncrief made only one catch for 14 yards. Another problem was penalties. The Jaguars were penalized 11 times for 119 yards.

"We just need to eliminate the self-inflicting stuff, the penalties, the things we do to put us behind the chains," Bortles said on Monday. "If we can get that out of the way, we'll be fine. We can make plays, move the ball as long as we're staying on track and not hurting ourselves. We all know how good of a football player Leonard is and how important he is to this team, but there are some guys in this room that are good football players, too. But everybody is going have to pick up the slack with Leonard being out. The offensive line has to make bigger holes. I've got to get us some better calls. The backs got to step the game up as well. It's going to be a group effort."

Led by their defense, linebacker Myles Jack's 32-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter sealed the Jaguars’ victory.

This week, the Jaguars have a more daunting challenge — an AFC championship game rematch against the Patriots, who beat the Texans 27-20 in Sunday's opener.

Last season, the Jaguars were one quarter away from earning their first Super Bowl trip in franchise history until the Patriots stormed back from a 20-10 deficit to prevail 24-20 in the AFC championship game.

"Like I told them, we are in the first quarter and this is the second game of the first quarter and it is an AFC opponent," Marrone said. "It is our home opener. We are more excited about playing in front of our fans and playing at home."

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